Coffin



(No Model.)

H. M.HANDSHY.

GOFFIN.

. Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

n BY WITNESSES AN DREW E GRAHAM. PHOTOLIYHWASHJNGTDKLDL.

Nirn dramas Parana einen,

HENRY M. IIANDSHY, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

COIFFIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,807, dated March 3, 1896.

Application filed October 5, 1895.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HENRY M. lIANDsHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Coffins, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of cofins; and the objects of my invention are Io to provide a coffin of improved construction and composition, to so construct the same as to render it impervious to the action of water or moisture, and to render said coffin strong and durable and admit of the same being pro- I 5 duced in a neat and ornamental form. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated iu the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in perspective of awirenetting coffin-section which I may employ, as

zo hereinafter described. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the completed coffin, showing a portion of the top and side broken away for the sake of clearness. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through said coffin; and Fig. e is a 2 5 view in perspective of a portion of a coflinlid, illustrating the form of hook employed in connecting the same with the coffin-body.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several-views.

In the construction of my improved coffin I preferablyT employ a coffin-shaped body or section l formed of wire-netting or wire-cloth, the latter having the usual or desirable coffin outline and form. Riveted or otherwise 3 5 firmly secured within the wire coffin-section l are the desired number of substantially U- shaped metallic bars or plates 27 the latter extending transverselyof said coffin-section and having their horizontal portions secured 4o to the bottom thereof, while their upwardlyextending or substantially vertical arm portions are secured to the inner sides of said coffin-section and are of equal height therewith. The upper ends of these vertical arms,

which are indicated at 3 and which are on what I term the rear side of the coffin, are, as shown, provided with openings 4:. The vertical arms of said bars which are on the forward side of the coffin are provided with 5o vertical pin extensions 5, the latter being threaded, as shown. Each of the vertical Serial No. 564,703. (No model.)

arms 3 of each of the bars 2 is provided with two outwardly-projecting bolts or pins G.

The coffin section, formed, as above described, of wire-netting or its equivalent, is adapted to have pressed or molded into its outer and inner faces a composition 7, which has been reduced to a pulp form or plastic mass, thus providing an inner and outer covering or casing for the netting and the bars therein. The pulp composition thus formed preferably consists of desired proportions of previously-ground vulcanite fiber and mica, although it is evident that the mica may be omitted, if desired. It is also evident that in molding or pressing the pulp about the wirescreen body the outer surface of the coffinbody thus produced may have formed therein any desirable ornamental figures or designs.

S represents the top or cover of my improved coffin-body, which may be in the form of the ordinary slab shown or may be suitably ornamented. In the formation of this cofiin-top I employ, as indicated more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, a layer of wire-netting 9 of the desired outline, into opposite sides of which has been pressed or molded the plastic material above referred to.

Molded within the body of the lid and adjacent to the rear edge thereof I provide the desired number of downwardly and outwardly curved metallic hooks or catch-pieces 10, said hooks being adapted, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to engage with the openings 4L of the bar-arms 3 when the lid is placed on the coffin-body. The forward edge portion of the lid or cover is provided with openings which are adapted to receive the upwardlyprojecting threaded pins 5 of the forward bararms 3, the outer end portions of these pins having openings therethrough which are adapted to receive the yoke of a suitable lock ll. Prior to the engagement of said lock, however, with said pin I insert over each of the pins a suitable washer 12, after which a nut 13 is screwed onto the pin, said nut bearing against said washer and serving to press the lid firmly into place.

To each pair of pins 6,which project through the coffin sides, as described, I secure a handle-bar 14, thus providing means for lifting and carrying the coffin.

IOO

It is well known that the character of vulcanite fiber and mica is such as to resist the action of dampness or moisture and that said materials are exceedingly durable and capable of withstanding great strain and wear.

The employment of the wire-screen body or section,which is indicated at l not only serves as a form upon which the coffin-body may be molded, but also serves to increase the rigidity of the body and assure the retention of the same in its proper shape.

Itis evident that a coffin such as I have herein shown and described may be produced in any desired form at a comparatively small expense, and that the material of which the same is composed is such as to render it eX- ceedingly durable and impervious to the decaying action of the earth in which the same may be buried. It will also be seen that superior means are provided for holding the lid or cover in firm connection with the coffinbody.

It is evident that other pulp compositions might be employed for molding the coiiin-bod y herein described, such as strawboard or wood pulp. It is also obvious that a coffin of the character described may be painted or colored as may be desired or required.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is* l In a coffin construction the combination with the wire coffin-section l, metallic bars secured to the sides thereof, openings in the rear ends of said bars and threaded pin projections on the forward ends thereof and a composition outer and inner facing for said wire section, of a lid, hooks projecting from the rear portion of said lid and adapted to engage with the openings in said bars, openings in the forward edge portion of said lid adapted to receive said projecting pins and means for locking said lid against removal, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

HENRY M. l-IANDSHY.

In presence of C. C. SHEPHERD, C. M. VooRHEEs. 

